Envelope-mcistening and stamp-affixing machine



Jan. 30, 1923. 1,443,386

A. SCHWANKE. ENVELOPE MOISTENING AND STAMP AFFIXlNG MACHINE.

FILED APR. 25. I92]. 2 SHEETS'SHEET 1 WI'IIIHII Jan. 30, 1923. v 1,443,386

A. SCHWANKE. ENVELOPE MOISTENING AND STAMP AFFIXING MACHINE.

' FILED APR 25. 1921. 2 SHEETSSHEET 2 Patented Jan. 30 1923.

ADO LPH SCHWANKE, OF WENON'A, ILLINOIS.

PATENTO FFICE.

ENVELOPE-MOISTENING AND STAMP-AFFIXING MACHINE.

Application filed April 25,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, AnoLrH SoHwANKn, a citizen of the United States, a resident of VVenona, in the county of Marshall and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements in Moistening and Stamp-Affixing Machine, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has reference to a new and improved envelope moistening affixing machine.

One of the objects of the present invenand stamp tion isto provide a simple, inexpensive, and v base supporting a practical machine of. the character referred to especially adapted for desk use. The invention has for a further object to provide an envelope moistening and stamp afiixing machine adapted to be used first for moistening the flap of the envelope thatit may be sealed and then for moistening the corner-ofthe envelope and aiiixing a stamp thereto. [The movement of the envelope during the moistening and stamp ,aflixing is adapted to actuate means which will feed a stamp. strip and permit the affixing of the stamp to the envelopeand the detachment of such afiixed stamp from the strip of stamps. i A further object of the invention is to provide the machine with a stamp strip feeding and stamp severing means adapted to be simultaneously actuated as the corner of the envelope is moistenedand moved to position for the afiixing of a stamp thereto. That the invention may be more fully understood, reference is had to the accomp-anying drawings forming a part of the description and illustrating a preferred em- ;bodiment of the invention in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of an envelope moistener and stamp aflixing machine embod-ying my improvements the stamp s trip feeding means being in'its normal pos tron; Fig. 2 is aview of the machine simllar to Fig. 1, with theexception that the means for feeding the stamp strip has been actuated and is inthe position it would assume during the affixing of a stamp to an envelope;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the machlne as 1t ,is shown in Fig. 2, with the exception that a part of the base of the machine is broken awayy, Fig. 4 is a vertical longitudinal sectlonal view through the machine, the parts being shown in the position they are in in Fig. 1;

an EnvelOpethe drawings.

with a.

1921. Serial No. 464,141.

Fig. 5 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view through the machine, the parts'being shown in the position they are in in Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view in plan on the line indicated by the arrows in Fig. 5, showing the stamp strip feeding plate and the means for preventing backward movement of the'stamp strip when the actuating means returns to its normal position, and l r Fig. 7 is a detail cross section in plan as the same would appear if taken on'the line 7-7 of Fig. 4. 1 y I in the drawings, 1 designates an elongated table 2, the latter at a suitable point formed or provided with a transverse slotB to receive a cutter to be hereinafter referred to. At one end of the table -there is secured in an upstanding position a stamp strip container 4 which supports a understood, is removable so as to receive the reeled stamp strip, in the manner shown in To the upper front face of the container and just below the cup 5 is secured a buffer 9, the use of which is to.

be further described- I Slidably supported on the table 2 is a stamp strip feeding plate 10 formed or'provided with string clip gripping fingers 11,

adapted whenthe plate 10 is moved in one direction to engage with the stamp strip 8' and feed said stamp strip forward the distance of. the length of plate is formed with a centrally disposed elongated slot 12. Extending longitudinally of the plate 10 and secured thereto are ribs 13, the forward ends of which have journaled therein the transverse rod or spindle 14 which for a portionof its length is car ried within a sleeve 15. y

16 designates arms which are pivotally connected on either side ofthe table 2 by means of a pivot pin 17 such arms normally assuming an upstanding position immedi-. ately in front of the stamp strip container and. the sponge holder as is clearly seen in the drawings. Connecting the said armslfi and disposed longitudinally therebetween from a suitable point removed fromtheir upper ends is, a spring plate 18 provided guard 19 and formed at its upper end with a cutter 20.

one stamp. Said n 0 ,jarand deadens the noise of impact.

spring clip 23,

suitable point removed from the plate 10 is bent forwardly :under a transversely disposed sleeve 20 and the forward end of said spring plate overlies and has a bearing upon the sleeve 15. The sleeve 20 is carried by a rod or spindle 21 connected with the-two said arms 16 and also connected with the said rod or spindle 21 are reach members 22 which at their opposite ends are connected with the rod or spindle 14.

When the arms 16 are returned to their normal'upstanding position by means of the spring plate 18, the guard 19 engageswith the buffer 9 and it being preferably made of rubber or some such material, relieves the Beneath the table 2 is, secured a spring clip 23 projecting up through an opening 24' in the table and, said spring clip functions to prevent the return of the stamp strip 8 with the rearward movement of the plate 10 in the event of any frictional relation between said plate and said stamp strip.

As will be understood the spring clips 11 on the plate 10 move the; stamp strip forwardly and-the spring clip 23 holds the stamp strip against any backward movement. The opening 12 in the plate 10 removes the danger of any frictional contact between the the stamp strip 8, and the plate 10, leaving the spring clip 23 free to act, as a retarding member only for the stamp strip 8.v It will be understood that -when the arms 16 are moved forwardly and downwardly oscillating the same upon the pivot pin 17 that such movement will fold the spring plate 18 into the position shown in Fig. 5, and that when the arms are released the spring plate automatically unfolds, returning the plates 16 to their normal upstanding positions seen in Fig. 4.

.By reason of the fact that the rod or spindle 21 is connected with the arms 16, as said arms are moved forwardly and downwardly etc the reach members 22 will be reciprocated forwardly and through their connection with the rod or spindle 14:, will move the feeding plate forwardly also, and as the spring clips 11 engage the stamp strip'8, they will move it forwardly and across the slot 3 in the bed. This movement of the stamp strip is sufficient to carry the same forward beyond the slot 3 the'distance of one stamp as seen in Fig. 5, and simultaneously the cutter 20 severs the stamp from the stamp strip and enters the slot 8 in the bed as shown, the edges of said slot serving as complementary cutting means to the cutter 20'.

.. In the operation of the device the flap of an envelope may be moistened by drawing thegummed portion of the flap across the moistened sponge 6 and then sealing the flap down. To afiix a stamp to the corner of an envelope, the'envelope is grasped in the hand with the corner to which the stamp is to be affixed facing downwardly. The corner of the envelope is then drawn across the sponge 6 to moisten the surface of the envelope, and this movement is continued forwardly and downwardly -which will move the arms16 in like direction, moving said arms and parts associated or connected therewith from the position shown in Figs. 1 and i to the position shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 5. Such movement, through the connect-ion of the reach bars 22 with the plate 10 will feedthe stamp strip 8 forwardly placing the end stamp of the strip just beyond or forward of the slot 3 in the table 2,

. in which position the moistened corner of the envelope will be brought into engagement with said end stamp, and pressure of the hand, while at the same time moving the envelope forwardly along the table will force the knife 20 into the slot 3 severing the end stamp from thestrip 8 leaving it attached to the envelope. The extension 19 of the spring'plate 18 provides the means y which the person affixing the stamp may press the knife 20 down into the slot 3 to sever the stamp. Also such extension 19, when thearms 16 are returned to their normal position, contacts with the buffermem- =ber 9 deadening the noise of impact. From the foregoing, it is obvious that the envelope corner is moistened, the stamp strip fed'for- Wardly, the stamp affixed, and the stamp severed all with one motion of the hand,

that of a forward and downward movement,

and that when the arms 16 are released the spring plate 18 returns the arms 16' to their upstanding position and the plate 10 to feeding position, and the spring clip 28 prevents backward movement of the stamp strip. What I claim is:

1. In a stamp affixing machine, in combination, a base, a table provided with a slot, a container at one end of said table,means to revolubly hold a reeled stamp strip in said container, sponge holder onsaid container,

stamp strip for movement longitudinally of 7 said table, a feeding plate overlying and spaced from said table and slidable thereon and providecbwith means to engage and feed the stamp strip forwardly, operating means pivotally connected with said table,

operating connections between said operating means and said feeding plate, a cutter 7 associated with said operating means, means to return the operating means and feeding means to normal position, and means to pre-.

with said table, reach bars connecting said arms with said plate, a spring plate connecting said arms and adapted to fold during the feeding'movement of said plate and to unfold and return said arms and plate to normal position upon the release of said arms, and means on the table to prevent backward movementof said stamp strip.

4. In a stamp afilxing machine, in combinatioma base, a table havinga transverse slot, a stamp strip container at one end of said table, a sponge holder supported by said container, a plate-movable on and longitudinally of said table, stamp strip engaging means on said plate, arms pivoted on either side of said table and normally assuming an upstanding position in front of said container, bars connecting said arms and said plate, means connecting the arms adapted to return said arms and plate to normal position after each feeding operation, a knife v to sever the individual stamps from the strip after each feeding operation, a buifer to receive the impact of said arms, and means on the table to prevent backward movement of said stamp strip.

In Witness whereof, I have hereunto affixed my hand this 19th day of April, 1921. ADOLPH SCHWANKE. 

